‘KSA, US planning Yemen power deal’

The United States and Saudi Arabia have jointly planned the new transfer of power in Yemen announced by Ali Abdullah Saleh, a Middle East expert tells Press TV.
"The managed transfer of power in Yemen is a joint plan by the US and Saudi Arabia. There may be some differences in the modus operandi. Saudi Arabia does not want Saleh to be overthrown by a popular revolution, because it is afraid of the consequences of Saleh's fall in the Saudi internal affairs," Mohiyeddin Sajedi said.
The Iranian commentator added that the US does not want a transfer of power in Yemen which would threaten US interests in the region.
On Saturday, Saleh announced that he would leave power within the next few days.
"I reject power and I will continue to reject it, and I will be leaving power in the coming days," he noted.
Sajedi also pointed out that Washington is also seeking to keep a military base in Yemen with a power transfer deal in the Arab country.
"It is said that the Yemeni government has put a base under the control of the US army or CIA," he said.
Sajedi believes that it is important for the US to have power is transferred to those who will keep the base and the military-security agreement between Washington and Sana'a.
Since late January, anti-regime protests against Saleh's 30-year rule have paralyzed the impoverished Arab state.
On Tuesday, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in the Change Square in the capital Sana'a, urging the UN Security Council (UNSC) to take action against Saleh.
The US, Britain and France have drafted a UNSC resolution on Yemen, which is expected to be approved by next week.
Foreign diplomats believe that Russia and China are not likely to oppose the draft resolution.
AGB/HGH